Exposition of Romans 13-16, Exposition of Romans · Chapter 2 · Verse 8
VERSE 8. For whether wee liue, we liue vntounto the Lord; or whether we dye, wee dye vntounto the Lord: whether we liue therefore, or dye, we are the Lords.
THe firſt part of this Verſe ſets downe the affirmatiue end which true beleeuers hauehave in life and death, viz. to liue and die to the Lord; of the which hath beene ſpoken in the ſeuenth v. to which indeed that part doth ſpecially belong.
The other part of this verſe: Whether we liue therefore or dye, we are the Lords; is a moſt ſweet and comfortable Illation, hauing the force of a reaſon to proue that wee ſhould not liue and dye to our ſelues, but to the Lord.
The reaſon is taken à relatis, from things that hauehave a neceſſary relation one to another.
They which are the Lords ſeruants, muſt liue and dye to the Lord.
But we are the Lords ſeruants:
Therefore, &c.
Here is an affirmation of a thing, and an amplification of it.
The affirmation is, We are the Lords.
The amplification is from the extent of it; which is double; 1. of State. 2. of Time.
Of State, in life; and not onelyonly ſo, but in death.
Of Time, both in life and death.
We: that is, which beleeue, not with a temporary or hiſtoricall faith onelyonly, but with a true, liuely, applying, iuſtifying, ſauing faith.
The Lords: How? his creatures; it is true, but ſo are the ſtones in the ſtreet, yea the diuels: how then? not his enemies; though there be many ſuch euen in his Church: but his ſeruants, bound to doe his will, and to bee at his diſpoſition, whether if it be to liue or dye.
He hath created vsus, and doth daily preſerue vsus; It is equall, that hauing our being and maintenance from him, we ſhould be ſubiect to his will.
He hath redeemed vsus, and ſo the Father hath giuen vsus to him, (which is moſt proper to this place, as the next verſe ſheweth) we were in captiuity vnderunder the diuell, bound and holden downe vnderunder him; but Chriſt hath reſcued and redeemed vsus; and therefore we are his bounden ſeruants in life and death.
But we are brethren with Chriſt, Obiect. and coheyres with him.
True, Anſw. as we are ſonnes of God; the Couenant makes vsus ſonnes; but the Redemption, ſeruants.
The Lords: yet we hauehave not all the meaning. We are then the Lords, that is, in ſubiection to him, and alſo vnderunder his tuition. Our ſeruice to him is not onelyonly hereby implyed, but, and that principally his care and protection of vsus. As, Coloſ. 4.1. Maſters giuegive to your ſeruants that which is iuſt and equall. Iuſt, that is, feed them, gouerne them, protect them, reward them. So we are the Lords, to receiue from him, as well as to performe vntounto him.
Whether we liue or dye: That is, in all eſtates of health, ſickneſſe, riches, pouerty, proſperitie, aduerſity, life, death: and alſo at all times, euen for euer.
All true beleeuers are in the Lords ſeruice, Doctr. and vnderunder his care and protection. Pſal. 55.22. Caſt thy burden vponupon the Lord, and he ſhall ſuſtaine thee. 1 Pet. 5.7. Caſting all your care vponupon him, for he careth for you. 1 Cor. 3.21.22.23. All are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things preſent, or things to come, all are yours, and yee are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods.
We ought not to diſſent and wrangle one with another; Vſe 1 wee are holden in a common ſeruice to one Maſter, and are entertained of him with an equall care and louelove.
Wilt thou iudge thy fellow ſeruant? Is it equall that hee ſhould order his life and conſcience according to the Rule of thy will, or of the Lords? Workes of ſeruants, in regard of vertue, or faultineſſe, are to be meaſured by the will and law of our abſolute Lord and Maſter.
It is a great dignity to ſerue King Salomon: Vſe 2 but vnſpeakable honour and happineſſe to be the feruant of Chriſt, 1 Kings 10.8. Iohn 15.15. Heb. 2.11.a wiſer, richer, and more gracious Maſter then Salomon could be: who vſeth his ſeruants, not as vaſſals, but as his deare friends and brethren, protecting them, prouiding for them, and rewarding them with euerlaſting life.
Be patient vnderunder the croſſe, euen in death: Vſe 3 for in life and death we are the Lords; be thou in vtrumque paratus, liue willingly: and, if it be thy Lords will, willingly die: Be willingly rich, and not vnwillingly poore: willingly enioy thy children, and if thy Lord will hauehave it ſo, willingly reſigne them vntounto him. Whether the one or the other, it is the Lord, let him doe what ſeemeth him good, as ſayd old Eli. Not as I will, 1 Sam. 3.18.but as thou wilt, Mat. 26.39.ſaid our bleſſed Sauiour. So Saint Paul; Chriſt ſhall bee magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death: If I liue, by preaching; if I dye, by ſuffering.
A great comfort. Vſe 4 If we beleeue, we are Christs; He preſerues vsus while we liue, and he takes care for vsus when we dye.
Not as we doe, doth Christ: we, when a ſeruant growes old, turne him away: But our Maſter tenderly cares for vsus, to old age, in death, and after death.
We cannot doe as Chriſt doth: when our ſeruants dye, it is out of our power both to command them, and to doe for them: But death cannot ſeparate vsus from Chriſt; but it euen lets vsus in to our Maſters ioy.
O how ſweet a thing is it, Chriſt to be a good Maſter to vsus when we are dying! not to be forſaken in death, and left to our ſelues.
O the miſerable eſtate of an impenitent ſinner! As hee hath liued like a wretch and a beaſt, ſo he dyes. Thinke of it you drunkards, &c. you may liue in ſome pleaſure here for a time, but your death ſhall be a very euill death, then you ſhall bee caſt out. The Hauke while it liues, is in price, and vponupon the Maſters fiſt ſometimes, but when it dyes it is caſt vponupon the dunghill: The Partrich is hunted while it liues, but when it dyes it is prepared for the Maſters owne Table: ſuch is the difference betweene a wicked man, and a true beleeuer, in death.
He which hath no care to liue to Chriſt, it is iuſt that in death Chriſt ſhould take no care for him. It belongs to him to care for vsus in death, to whom we hauehave directed our liues. To whom haſt thou liued? to Satan? O truly miſerable, for whom none takes care in the houre of death but the diuell our deadly enemy.
Happy is the man that in the houre of death hath the God of Iacob for his helpe: ſo hauehave all thoſe which hauehave liued to him: If thou forſakeſt not God in thy life, he will neuer forſake thee in death; thy Maſter Ieſus Chriſt will then ſtick cloſe to thee when thou haſt moſt need, and all the world can doe thee no good. Thou ſhalt hauehave aſſurance of the pardon of thy ſinnes; Thou ſhalt tread downe Satan vnderunder thy feet; Thou ſhalt lye downe in the peace, ioy, and comfort of a good conſcience; For thy bleſſed Lord and Maſter leſus Chriſt careth for thee, and his honour is great in thy ſaluation.